One of the matters, which we Muslims overlook, or not implement it as much in our lives is to get in the habit of sending blessings on our prophet Muhammad a,s. This matter is of so much importance that in Qur’an Allah declares doing so Himself along with the angels and then instructs the Muslims to do the same.

Allah says in surah Ahzab 56: Indeed, Allah confers (send) blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you, who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.

Imam Bukhari said: Abu Al-Aliyyah said: Allah’s salah is His praising him before the angels, and the Salah of the angels is their supplication.

Sending blessings on the Prophet is so vital that in one of the hadith, acceptance of our Dua is made dependant on it. According to a hadith by Umar ibn al-Khattaab who said: Dua is suspended between heaven and earth and none of it is taken up until you send blessings upon your Prophet. Imam Tirmidhi.

Another hadith takes this topic further in that it advises believers to include as much blessings on the Prophet a,s, part of our dua. It was narrated (in part of the hadith) that Ubayy ibn Ka’b said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, I send blessings upon you a great deal; how much of my prayer (dua) should be for you? He said: Whatever you wish. I said: One quarter? He said: Whatever you wish, and if you do more it is better for you. I said: Half? He said: Whatever you wish, and if you do more it is better for you. I said: Two thirds? He said: Whatever you wish, and if you do more it is better for you. I said: Should I make all my du’aa’ for you? He said: Then your concerns will be taken care of and your sins will be forgiven. Imam Tirmidhi.

In another hadith by Al-Tirmidhi narrated from Abdu-Allah ibn Mas’ood that the Messenger of Allah said: The closest of people to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who send the most blessings on me. al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb.

In summary, we should send our salutations to the Prophet (SAW) whenever possible or whenever we hear his name mentioned. Let’s remember that Allah Himself does that along with the angels too.

According to Ibn Masud Prophet (SAW) said: The people who will be nearest to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who invoke blessings on me frequently. Tirmizi

Aws bin Aws Ath-Thaqafi relates that Prophet said: Among the best of your days is Friday; so invoke blessings on me frequently (plenty) on that day, for your invocations will be presented to me. When companions asked: Ya Rasul Allah, how will our blessings be conveyed to you when your decayed body will have mixed with the earth? He replied: Allah has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets.

Imam Ahmad and Tirmithi recorded that the Prophet said: the miser is the one on whose presence I am mentioned, and then he does not send salah upon me.

Allah said in surah Ahzah 43: It is He who confers blessing upon you, and His angels [ask Him to do so] that He may bring you out from darkness into the light. And ever is He, to the believers, Merciful.